03 December 2010

Random Beer Roundup - The First Snow Edition

Welcome to December! Is it Spring yet?

I am super excited to be brewing my very first homebrew batch this weekend with my friend Amy. We are going to brew a coffee stout (huh, imagine that!) on Sunday. Any homebrewers out there have any general tips, suggestions, or hints for making a first brew successful? Amy has brewed before but I know just enough to be dangerous, so it should be a rockin' good time!

If there is something coming up that is not listed, we would love to hear about it. News, reviews, info, etc., to share for our next Random Beer Roundup can be submitted to hoosierbeergeek@gmail.com. Don't see your favorite craft beer establishment? Let them know you'd like to see them here! Work for an establishment that serves craft beer? We want to hear from you too!

I'll be having my first tapping at The Alcatraz on December 16th at 6:30pm. My "Penitentiary Pilsner" is a Czech Pilsner with just the right balance of Ida Pils and Carapils malts along with Saaz hops. Stop by to try this easy drinking golden pilsner.

That night there will be a beer trivia contest for a chance to win a T-shirt or appetizer. One lucky winner will receive a dinner for 2 at The Alcatraz.

Bloomington Brewing Company's 1000th Batch will be released on Wednesday, December 15.

Ole Floyd's Belgian Dark Strong Ale will be an ale for the ages--yet only our IPA's compete with the speed at which our Belgians have historically dried their serving vessels!

1000 Batch Bash (Ole Floyd's Belgian demands something grander than "release party"!) will kick off at Lennie's at 5 p.m. Award-winning Chef Fred Manion will work with our brewers to create special dishes, assuring us that our palates will be pleased in oh-so-many ways!

We have a new beer that is going on-draft today at Bourbon's in Lawrenceburg, IN. They requested a beer made just for them and we came through with "Bourbon's Barrel Stout". This is a slightly amped-up recipe of our regular stout that is conditioned in oak Maker's Mark barrels and has 65 IBU's and 7.2% ABV. "Bourbon's Barrel Stout" will also be available at the brewery in growlers. We are keeping a 1/6 barrel at the brewery that we can pour at Winterfest in January.

We've also got our full line-up of bottled products in stock: Tippecanoe Common Ale and Black Angus Oatmeal Stout are available in 12 oz. longnecks; while Star City Lager and Eighty-Five American Ale are both available in our new 22 oz. bombers. Stop by on Sunday for carry-out if you're in town for the Christmas Parade or the PMO Christmas shows.

On Sale Now! Both the Fishers and Downtown locations are currently selling Limited Edition 1 Gallon Growlers to celebrate the RAM’s upcoming 40th anniversary. These unique collectable jugs are going fast, so stop in very soon.

Thanks and congratulations to everyone who reserved bottles of sour ale earlier this week! 81 bottles were reserved in the first minute, over a thousand within the first half hour, and we were entirely sold out within 19 hours!

We look forward to seeing everyone who reserved bottles here in the Bloomington Tap Room between December 8th and 22nd.

Dogfish Head / Three Floyds- Poppa Skull- a deep, golden ale spiced with cardamom and fermented using a robust Belgian yeast strain. One third of the volume was then aged for 6 months in oak brandy barrels. Spice, esters, and sweet brandy dominate the aroma. A robust 10% abv is rounded by caramel and vanilla notes from the wood with a slight spiciness coming from the yeast.

KOTBR #90 - Medal Winners - We visit Barley Island and Brugge Brasserie in Broad Ripple to try some medal winning beers. Things get interesting when we are joined by some special guests, including Michael Phelps, Rob Halford, Glenn Danzig, and Brugge's very own Ted Miller.

Beer: The Pedal Pusher's Potion - Our first in depth feature receives support from Dogfish Head, Left Hand, Breckenridge Brewery, and Smuttynose, and draws in hits from hundreds of cyclists looking for a beer buzz.